A Turn of Events™

We had a great time on our interview with Forrest Derr about THE CORNER OFFICE WASN'T THE GOAL — IT WAS THE WARNING SIGN . Forrest Derr is a Fractional COO, EOS Integrator, and founder of Derr Consulting. With more than 25 years as a second-in-command leader, he helps founders build better businesses through people, process, and structure. Known as "The Fractionator™," Forrest works with growing c...

We had a great time on our interview with Julie Comfort about THE COOKIE-CUTTER TRAP: LESSONS FROM 300 WEDDINGS ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS . Julie Comfort is an experience designer, educator, and author of the forthcoming book Beyond Pretty. Julie teaches wedding planners and designers the invisible architecture behind the world’s most unforgettable events, and what separates a wedding that looks beaut...

We had a great time on our interview with Peggy Sullivan about ESCAPING TIME POVERTY . Peggy Sullivan is self-proclaimed “busyness addict in recovery,” Peggy now empowers professionals to escape time poverty and focus on what truly matters. As the creator of the Performance by Design Framework, she provides actionable strategies that help people achieve more by doing less—boosting productivity, he...

Join me LIVE on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday, March 12, at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Linda Hunt about THE MONEY CONVERSATION: HOW TO TALK ABOUT PRICING WITHOUT THE WOBBLE. Linda Hunt is a Money Clarity Catalyst and Pricing Power Strategist, founder of SUMSOLUTIONS LLC, and author of The Money Conversation (releasing early 2026). She helps entrepreneurs anchor financial clarity, rebui...

Join me on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday, February 19 at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Zipporah Monique about LEADING WITH EMPATHY: HOW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CAN DRIVE BUSINESS SUCCESS. Zipporah Monique is an executive coach, emotional intelligence consultant, and leadership speaker with over 11 years of invigorating leaders and high-performing professionals to adopt emotional and social...

We had a great time on our LIVE interview session with Stephanie LaFlora discussing MULTI-SIDED PLATFORM MANAGEMENT . It took being rejected for service at five separate salons due to her 4C textured hair for Stephanie LaFlora to realize that something was terribly wrong with the beauty industry. Driven to solve the problems of her own customer experience and already a serial entrepreneur, storyte...

We had a great time on our interview session with Annie McAllister talking about THE GUEST EXPERIENCE- MORE THAN JUST A PHOTO OP . Annie brings a wealth of expertise with 14 years of dedicated experience in event production, positioning her as an invaluable asset to the 15|40 family. Her professional journey encompasses a diverse range of projects, from large-scale extravaganzas to intimate gather...

We had a great time on our live interview session with John Dwyer talking about DIRECT RESPONSE MARKETING. John Dwyer is the owner of the Institute Of Wow, a Direct Response Marketing Company that provides businesses with highly creative customer attraction concepts. Known as “JD”, this guy is a marketing enigma, an ideas guru who thinks WAY outside the box. He’s also the guy who scored the massiv...

We had a great time on our live interview session with Amanda Sherlip discussing PLANNING SUCCESSFUL NON-PROFIT AND SMALL BUSINESS EVENTS . Amanda Sherlip is the Founder and Principal of Avant Grand Consulting and is the outgoing Executive Director with Hands Across the Sea. With two decades of experience spanning philanthropic leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive management, Amanda brings...

Join me Thursday, October 16 at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Wendy Kay about CULTIVATING A CURATED CREATIVE TEAM . Thriving on creating something from nothing, Wendy welcomes the creative challenge and complex logistics required to (literally) build an event from the ground up. From design conception to collaborating with the creative team and directing the day-of execution, Wendy respects...

We had a great time on our interview with Maria Bayer about IRRESISTIBLE SELLING: MASTERING THE ART OF HIGH-VALUE BOOKINGS. Maria Bayer is a leading sales and mindset strategist for wedding and event professionals who want to book next-level clients and scale their businesses to multi 6- and 7-figures. She teaches a modern sales approach that empowers clients to connect authentically, command top...

We had a great time with Joe Apfelbaum discussing HOW TO USE AI TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS. Joe Apfelbaum is the CEO of Ajax Union, a B2B digital marketing agency. Joe is a business strategist, marketing expert, AI consultant, and certified Google trainer. Joe is the author of five books, and his latest release is called High Energy Marketing. When he is not Mojovating entrepreneurs at events and on Li...

We had a great time on our interview session with Lasada Pippen talking about THE CLIMB: MOVING BEYOND BARRIERS AND ELEVATING YOUR IMPACT. Lasada Pippen is a former computer engineer turned motivational powerhouse. As a first-generation college graduate, first-generationcorporate professional, and bilingual STEM expert, Lasada's journey is a real-world story of resilience, grit, and reinventi...

Join me LIVE on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday, June 5, at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Magi Fisher about ALL THINGS LEGAL IN YOUR WEDDING AND EVENT BUSINESS. Magi is a multi-hyphenate photographer, lawyer, and founder, with a diverse portfolio of successful brands. Her career journey has taken her from photographing professional surfers in some of the world's most epic waves to earning a...

Join me LIVE on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday, May 1, at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Doug C. Brown about how to TURN LOST SALES INTO WINS: LEARN HOW STRATEGIC FOLLOW-UPS RECOVER WHAT’S LOST AND UNLOCK FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-VALUE DEALS . Doug C. Brown is the founder of CEO Sales Strategies and a renowned Sales Revenue and Profit Growth Expert. Over his career, Doug has founded o...

Join me LIVE on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday, February 27 at 1:00 PM EDT where I will interview Wendy Kay about CULTIVATING A CURATED CREATIVE TEAM . Thriving on creating something from nothing, Wendy welcomes the creative challenge and complex logistics required to (literally) build an event from the ground up. From design conception to collaborating with the creative team and directing the...

We had a great time on our live interview session with Amanda Sherlip discussing PLANNING SUCCESSFUL NON-PROFIT AND SMALL BUSINESS EVENTS . Amanda Sherlip is the Founder and Principal of Avant Grand Consulting and is the outgoing Executive Director with Hands Across the Sea. With two decades of experience spanning philanthropic leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive management, Amanda brings...

Join me on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday November 7 at 1:00 PM EST where I will interview Annie McAllister about THE GUEST EXPERIENCE- MORE THAN JUST A PHOTO OP. Annie brings a wealth of expertise with 14 years of dedicated experience in event production, positioning her as an invaluable asset to the 15|40 family. Her professional journey encompasses a diverse range of projects, from large-sca...

Join me on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday, October 31 at 1:00 PM EST where I will interview Brandon Leibowitz about MASTERING SEO, SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING, & GOOGLE ADS: ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE. Brandon Leibowitz has been running and operating SEO Optimizers since 2007. It is a digital marketing company that focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses get...

We had a great time with Maria Bayer discussing IRRESISTIBLE SELLING: MASTERING THE ART OF HIGH-VALUE BOOKINGS. Maria Bayer is a leading sales and mindset strategist for wedding and event professionals who want to book next-level clients and scale their businesses to multi 6- and 7-figures. She teaches a modern sales approach that empowers clients to connect authentically, command top dollar, and...

Join me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram October 10 at 1:00 PM EST where I will interview Jessica Stewart about BRINGING PLANNERS TOGETHER AT THE EVENT PLANNER EXPO IN NYC. Jessica Stewart embarked on her career journey with a Communications Degree as a graduate of the University of Massachusetts. She went on to assume positions at two of the most prestigious cosmetic companies, Estee Lauder an...

Join me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram Thursday, September 12 at 1:00 PM EST where I will interview Cameron Forbes  @forbesfunctions  about THE BACKEND OF BUSINESS - THE NOT SO FUN STUFF NO ONE TALKS ABOUT . Cameron Forbes is the visionary founder of Forbes Functions, where exceptional event planning meets the pulse of New York City. At Forbes Functions, Cameron leverages her extens...

Looking to stay ahead in the wedding planning game? "A Turn of Events" brings you the latest scoop on the top wedding trends for 2024 with host Annette Naif, CEO and Creative Director of Naif Productions. In this episode, Annette, a seasoned expert based in New York City and creator of the Event Planning Academy, shares her insights into the evolving nature of the wedding industry, catering to the...

Are you looking to build lasting business relationships in the wedding and event planning industry? In this episode, Annette Naif chats with Brian Worley, the creative force behind B Worley Productions. Brian brings an arsenal of high profile event experiences with over 22 years of experience in the business in wedding and event planning industry. Brian was named Harper's Bazaar top wedding and ev...

Are you grappling with how to price your event planning services so you get the business, and you make money? It's a common struggle, and in this episode of "A Turn of Events," we're learning from Annette Naif, CEO and Creative Director of Naif Productions, herself! In this solo episode, Annette tackles the crucial question: How do you set a price that reflects your worth and yet remains competiti...